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There is more to life than working and sleeping. That’s what hobbies are for. Hobbies can add variety to one’s life. Especially if you are a busy Dad. Rather than sleep, work, sleep, repeat, you can actually set some time aside to involve yourself in a hobby.
And it has to be said, sometimes it can feel like there are not enough hours in the day. So, it can be difficult to envision yourself being able to make time to enjoy a hobby. But, this list of hobbies for busy Dads has been carefully created to give you a lot of ideas.
1. Astronomy
From the moment you wake up until the moment you go to bed, life can be very busy. Astronomy offers a great way to enjoy some peace and quiet. It doesn’t require a lot of your time either. You could focus on astronomy during the weekends or for just a few hours a week. Treat yourself to a cost-effective telescope from Gskyer.
2. Learn to play guitar
If you have always had a burning desire to learn how to play guitar, then there is no better time than to get started now. Regardless of your age or skill level, learning guitar can be a fun experience. And who knows, maybe you will be able to start your own band one day.
3. Gardening
Gardening is very relaxing on a beautiful day. When the sun is shining and there is a light breeze, there is nothing like being outside and breathing the fresh air. If you don’t have a garden currently, start small then work your way up. And tending to a garden doesn’t require a lot of your time. So go ahead, start today!
4. Join your local fitness facility
Dedicating a few hours of your time a week to working out is both a good idea for your overall health and it will allow you to clear your mind from your busy day. You will be surprised as to how much better you might feel after only a few hours at the gym per week. And if you don’t necessarily want to go to the gym by yourself, connect with a workout partner. Both of you can hold each other accountable.
5. Start jogging
A great way to stay active is to jog. You can go for a jog in your neighborhood or you can jog on an affordable NordicTrack T Series Treadmill. Either option will allow you to get a break from the monotony of just working and sleeping. And jogging is definitely one of the best hobbies for busy Dads because it can help you burn off some of the frustrations you experience throughout your day.
6. Go fishing
Making the time to go fishing is challenging for most Dads but if you are dedicated to starting a hobby that will make you happy then you will have to make the time to go fishing. Try reconfiguring your schedule or duties and free up yourself an afternoon to go fishing. It may take some work to fit in some fishing but it will be worth it when you are on the water and you are surrounded with nothing but silence.
7. Try hiking
When a lot of people hear the term hiking, they think that they will be somehow hiking to the top of Mount Everest. However, there is a variety of terrain that you hike on. Choose terrain that you feel comfortable with from the outset. Especially if you feel that hiking is an intimidating hobby. Once you become accustomed to hiking, it will be literally just you and nature.
Fun Hobbies For Dads
1. Experiment with woodworking
You don’t have to be an expert to start woodworking. You can start as a beginner and become more skilled over time. And if you have experience with woodworking then you know what a fun hobby it is, especially for busy Dads. It’s a fun hobby because you get to see the results of your work when you make an item out of wood. Try woodworking as a hobby and set a goal to make a table or bench and give it as a gift for a special occasion. Or you can start a small woodworking business and sell your pieces part-time.
2. Go camping regularly
If you enjoy the outdoors then try going camping more often. While you can still enjoy camping with your family, you can try camping more regularly by yourself or with a friend or two. Take the time to find some places to camp that aren’t too far from where you live and try camping for only one night rather than it taking up your whole weekend.
3. Photography
If dabbling in photography has crossed your mind, you can get started as early as right now. Odds are, you are reading this list of hobbies from a device that is already equipped with an amazing camera. Mobile and handheld devices today are well equipped with better cameras than were available in the entire marketplace even 15 year ago. Starting with your device is a great way to experiment with settings and lighting. The most you will have to do is research the ways to optimize your own device for photography.
4. Start baking
Baking is not only a great hobby for yourself but think of all of the people in your life that will be happy with your delicious food. There are thousands of resources available online that you can find by just searching for baking for beginners, if you are a beginner. If you are more advanced or experienced and need some ideas, you can search for baking ideas on the internet or social media.
5. Watch reruns
You might not think that watching reruns counts as a hobby but if all you feel that you do is eat, sleep and work with very little time to yourself then watching reruns of an old sitcom or documentary is a way for you to take some time to yourself. Enjoy reruns in your man cave, if you happen to have one or in the evening. Watching reruns is a great way to break up your busy week.
6. Play video games
The key here is moderation. You might have played video games when you were a kid and then eventually stopped because life got in the way. You know, you gained a bunch of responsibilities and video gaming did not add value to your life. But now that you are in search of a hobby, consider playing video games for fun. Technology has come a long way in such a short amount of time and it can be fun to play a new game. The graphics alone evolve year after year that you may play a game just for the graphics alone.
7. Start tattooing
At one point in your life, you may have thought about becoming a tattoo artist but maybe it wasn’t practical at the time. Well, now you can start doing it as a hobby. Dad memorial tattoo ideas are very sought after. And especially if you are artistic in that manner, you would probably have people asking you to tattoo them fairly quickly.
Hobbies For Dads At Home
1. Landscaping
Doing yard work and landscaping can sometimes be a never ending job. And that’s what makes it such a great hobby for Dads at home. Landscaping your yard allows you to be creative. You can strategize on how you want your yard to look and pick away at it over time. As the seasons change, you can update the look of your yard too. This is a hobby that you can do daily or weekly.
2. Practice interior design
There are so many ways that you can decorate your home, reinvigorate your space and make your home more functional. Especially if you have an eye for design. Home decor possibilities are endless and you can either shop instore or online. You can get creative when it comes to lighting, materials and aesthetics, making it a convenient hobby for Dads at home.
3. Complete crossword puzzles
Taking the time to complete a crossword puzzle can take time if you are new to doing crosswords puzzles. And because crossword puzzles can take some time to fully complete, it makes a great hobby for Dads at home. Be sure to find a quiet place in your home if you can, or you can stop in at your local café and strive to not only work on a crossword puzzle but complete one in its entirety.
4. Origami
Making a paper crane is an artform. Origami may appear simple but it can get quite complex and it’s easily something that you can do for a hobby. Not only can you make paper cranes but you make a puppy, flower, tissue holder, jumping frog or butterfly. All you need is paper and some helpful Origami YouTube tutorial videos.
5. Meditation
Occasionally enjoying some time to yourself to meditate can clear your mind. If you have never meditated before, then it’s worth starting as a hobby. There are many YouTube videos that you can watch to learn more about how to meditate effectively. Jason Stephenson has a great guided meditation for beginners. And the best part about meditation is that you can do it at any point in your day.
6. Sketching or Drawing
A lot of Dads have artistic ability but sadly, a lot of Dads put that skill on the back burner because life gets busy. If this sounds like then you are not alone. Which is why this is a great time to resurrect your talents and skills and apply them to sketching or drawing. You are already motivated to get started, so why not start doing this as a hobby. It will be a nice escape from the same ‘ol same ‘ol.
7. Birdwatching
A relatively inexpensive hobby to start is birdwatching. Treat yourself to an affordable pair of occer compact binoculars, carve out some time to dedicate to watching some amazing birds that appear around your home. Surprisingly, once you pay close attention to the birds in your area, you will find some beautiful birds to look at. If possible, attempt to birdwatch free from most distractions.
Hobbies For Dads and Daughters
1. Play chess
Chess is just one of those games that can be fun and intense at the same time. If you have the means and motivation to play chess regularly, then start doing it as a hobby with your daughter. You can start by taking a look at the Chess Armory Wooden Magnetic Chess Set. Playing chess with your daughter will allow time for the both of you to strengthen your bond with one another.
2. Sing songs together
Whether you or your daughter are musically gifted or not, singing songs together is super fun. The both of you can make this a regular thing together as a way of pressing or just simply spending more time together. Regardless of the genre or music or specific don, singing songs together will create memories that will last a lifetime.
3. Go biking
Biking as a hobby is a great activity to do with your daughter because you get to choose the path that you bike on. You could simply bike around the neighborhood or you can bike on some trails that are available locally where you live. Biking can take the both of you fifteen minutes to a couple hours. The great part is, you get to choose. And you will get to select different locations to bike, or the same. Whatever the both of you feel like doing on that particular day. Biking together does help strengthen the father-daughter relationship
4. Crafting
A super fun way to spend more time with your daughter is to make crafts with her and turn it into a hobby. Crafts can range from making items out of popsicle sticks to making paper hats. Grab yourself some glue, markers, crayons and paper and let your imagination run wild. As a hobby, you can make crafts regularly and put them on display around your home.
5. Volunteering
A great way to give back to your community is to volunteer. This can be a weekly occurrence for you and your daughter. Organizations that generally could benefit from volunteers include animal shelters and food kitchens. Not to mention, volunteering with your daughter wholeheartedly provides a heartwarming experience.
Hobbies For Dads And Sons
1. Playing hockey
If your son plays a summer sport like soccer then playing hockey during the winter months is a nice transition. You can play hockey with your son on weekends when he doesn’t have school. And you don’t have to play at a professional level. You can simply lace up some skates and find a skating rink in your area and pass the puck around for an hour or two.
2. Four-wheeling
Although it’s not the most affordable option, taking your son four-wheeling will allow the both of you to create long-lasting memories. With safety in mind, the both of you can find a trail in your area and navigate them safely. If four-wheeling is something new for you, you may want to start off slow, then increase your distance over time. Four-wheeling is a great hobby for Dads and sons because you can do it for the majority of the year, depending where you live of course.
3. 5-pin bowling
When was the last time you went bowling? Well, if it has been a while then maybe it’s a good time to start bowling as a hobby with your son. You can choose from 5-pin bowling or traditional 10-pin bowling. Bowling is enjoyed by over 67 million people in the United States per year. And although it may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of starting a hobby, bowling offers the opportunity to strengthen the bond with your son and have fun at the same time.
4. Practice magic
A wonderful way to spend quality time with your son is to practice magic as a hobby. You can start with some simplified magic tricks and work your way up to more complicated ones. As the both of you learn how to perform magic, you can put on a show at the next family gathering. Your magic act can include the both of you or one can perform individually and take turns. Surprise your family at the next get together.
5. Taekwondo
A great sport that you can start as a hobby and that you don’t have to know anything about to get started is Taekwondo. Seek out a dojo in your area to find out if you and your son can take classes together. If the both of you are just getting started and don’t have any experience, you can advance through the belts together. Taekwondo is a great way for your son to learn discipline.
Summary
As a busy Dad, it’s important to implement more of your passions into your routine. It’s not selfish to think about yourself sometimes. And whether you choose to start a hobby on your own or with your son and/or daughter, make sure it’s an activity that is outside of your normal day-to-day life. Because if you are happier, then the people that you care about the most in your life will be happier too.
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